"Master, you probably do not know much about cultivation in the Human Realm, right? Let Xiao Chu guide you…"
"The Mortal Realm is the very foundation of cultivation. Else someone is born in a higher realm, they must begin from these basics."
"There are eight stages within the Mortal Realm, from lowest to highest."
1. Body Tempering Realm –In this realm, cultivators strengthen their muscles, bones, and internal organs. This grants them extraordinary physical growth and prepares them for true cultivation. Many people never even reach this stage and live their entire lives as ordinary mortals.
2. Qi Condensation Realm –At this stage, cultivators begin gathering spiritual energy from the surroundings, condensing it within their bodies to form the foundation of their cultivation.
3. Qi Foundation Realm –Here, the gathered spiritual energy stabilizes and forms a proper foundation, allowing the cultivator to sustain and control their spiritual power. "It increases their lifespan by fifty years"
4. Spirit Sea Realm –In this realm, the cultivator forms an internal Spirit Sea, dramatically increasing the amount of spiritual energy they can store. "It increases their lifespan by four hundred years."
5. Core Formation Realm –At this stage, the cultivator condenses their spiritual energy into a Golden Core, marking the beginning of true power. "It increases their lifespan by eight hundred years."
6. Nascent Soul Realm –The cultivator's soul begins separating from the body, forming a nascent soul. At this stage, they can even manifest their spiritual form. "It increases their lifespan by one thousand years."
7. Spirit King Realm –Cultivators at this level can control vast amounts of spiritual energy and dominate most of the Mortal Realm. "It increases their lifespan by two thousand years."
8. Half-Ascension Realm –The final stage of the Mortal Realm. Cultivators prepare to break into the Spirit Realm. "It increases their lifespan by three thousand years."
"After that," Xiao Chu said proudly, "they must face the Spirit Ascension Tribulation."
And every realm had 5 sub-realms to break through to another.
Jun Tianming nodded calmly as he listened to the explanation.
"I see."
Xiao Chu hesitated for a moment before asking awkwardly, fidgeting with her fingers.
"But Master… you are the Holy Son of the Holy Emperor. Why do you want to steal their luck?"
"Ahehe…"
She forced a casual laugh.
Jun Tianming calmly lifted the teacup resting on the table and took a small sip.
"Because right now," he said indifferently, "I am no different from a human."
"My cultivation has been sealed by Emperor Father. If I wish to grow stronger, it will take time."
He placed the teacup down.
"So tell me… wouldn't it be easier to simply take what others already have?"
His golden eyes glimmered faintly.
"Anything that helps my cultivation is merely a stepping stone for me to ascend higher."
"As for everyone else…"
He smiled slightly.
"Who cares?"
A faint grin slowly appeared on Jun Tianming's face.
Ahh… ahh… why is this happening to me?! Master is so scary…! Why did I fall into the God Realm of all places? Uwah…!Xiao Chu wailed silently in her heart.
"Your Holy Highness…"
A beautiful voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Come in," Jun Tianming replied calmly.
The door slowly opened.
"Your Holy Highness, it is a blessing for our sect that you have graced us with your presence."
The woman stepped forward and knelt respectfully before him.
She was Shen Qinglan, the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect.
The woman before Jun Tianming possessed an alluring figure, with a mature and graceful body. Her waist was slender, while her long crimson hair cascaded down her back, decorated with delicate jade and gold accessories. Her red eyes carried a faint charm that could easily captivate ordinary men.
"Please rise," Jun Tianming said as he walked closer to her.
"Your Holy Highness, everything has been prepared according to your instructions."
She raised both hands respectfully and presented a small stone token. The token was engraved with the word "Azure," faint spiritual energy flowing across its surface.
"This token will allow Your Highness to move freely within the Azure Cloud Sect… and throughout most regions of the mortal realm."
Jun Tianming took the token and examined it briefly.
"Does anyone else know about my identity?" he asked calmly.
"Of course not, Your Holy Highness," Shen Qinglan replied.
A faint, seductive smile appeared on her lips as she slowly stepped closer, seemingly attempting to please him.
However—
The moment her hand reached toward him—
Smack.
Jun Tianming slapped her hand away.
His expression turned cold.
Suddenly, Ying Yue appeared like a shadow, a dagger already resting against Shen Qinglan's neck.
Her movements were so fast that Shen Qinglan did not even sense her presence before the cold blade touched her skin.
At that moment, Shen Qinglan tried to circulate her spiritual energy.
But she realized she could not access her power at all.
A chill ran down her spine.
The pressure from Ying Yue alone completely suppressed her cultivation.
Realizing the situation instantly, Shen Qinglan immediately changed her attitude.
Her seductive expression vanished, replaced with absolute respect.
"My apologies, Your Holy Highness," she said, lowering her head deeply. "Qinglan overstepped."
Ying Yue's crimson eyes remained cold as the dagger stayed at Shen Qinglan's throat, waiting for Jun Tianming's command.
"A-Ah—!"
Shen Qinglan immediately dropped to her knees.
"I—I apologize, Your Holy Highness! I merely thought—"
Jun Tianming's gaze became even colder.
He bent slightly toward her and spoke in a calm but chilling voice.
"You are the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect."
"And a widow."
"At the very least, show some respect for your late husband… and for your own status."
His words were sharp and merciless.
Shen Qinglan's body trembled slightly.
"Qinglan… understands."
She lowered her head, not daring to look at him again.
"You may go," he commanded, not looking towards her while pouring tea from the teapot.
As Shen Qinglan stood up and quietly left the room, Ying Yue's gleaming eyes shifted toward Jun Tianming.
Jun Tianming reached out his hand toward her.
But Ying Yue merely hmphed softly before vanishing into thin air like a shadow dissolving in darkness.
"Aiyaa…"
Jun Tianming leaned back slightly and looked toward the ceiling with a faintly annoyed expression.
Ying'er… Ying'er…
How long are you going to keep avoiding me?
"Xiao Chu," Jun Tianming said calmly, "you can access everyone's information, right? What is her cultivation level?"
Immediately, a translucent screen appeared before him.
Shen Qinglan
Age: 800 yearsRealm: Nascent Soul Realm
Background:Born into a humble family, Shen Qinglan possessed extraordinary beauty. She eventually married the former Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect. When her husband failed to break through to a higher realm and eventually died, she inherited the position of Sect Master.
Under her leadership, the sect continued to prosper. However, due to her limited cultivation talent, she has been unable to advance further in her cultivation.
Jun Tianming looked at the screen quietly.
"So… she is merely an old woman seeking greater power."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Xiao Chu, when will Lin Zheng arrive?" Jun Tianming asked while changing into fresh robes, preparing to leave his chamber.
Another screen appeared.
Arrival Time: Three Months
Jun Tianming nodded slightly.
"Then we still have time."
"Let's improve my cultivation first."
He stepped outside his room.
Waiting outside was a young man in his twenties. He was of average height and appearance, looking somewhat ordinary compared to the disciples of great sects.
The moment he saw Jun Tianming, he immediately bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, Senior Brother. My name is Gu Tian."
"Senior brother?" Jun Tianming repeated with slight curiosity.
"Of course," Gu Tian replied quickly. "Senior Brother is a direct disciple of the Sect Master. That naturally makes you my senior brother."
"The Sect Master asked me to guide you around the sect."
"Ah."
Jun Tianming nodded slightly.
For a brief moment he hesitated before speaking.
"My name is Ju… um… Jingyi."
The two exchanged greetings.
"Please."
"Please."
They both gestured politely before beginning to walk together.
The Azure Cloud Sect was vast.
Towering mountains surrounded the sect grounds, covered in spiritual mist. Elegant pavilions and training platforms were scattered across the peaks, while disciples moved busily through the pathways.
For a sect of the Mortal Realm…
It was already quite impressive.
As Jun Tianming walked forward, everyone's eyes fell on him. Some looked at him with curiosity, while many of the female disciples were completely captivated by his striking appearance.
"Senior Brother Jingyi, where would you like to go first?" Gu Tian asked.
He appeared cheerful on the surface, though somewhat simple-minded from what Jun Tianming had observed. His cultivation was also nothing impressive for his age, only the fifth level of the Qi Condensation Realm, something Jun Tianming had already verified with Xiao Chu's help.
"I would like to improve my cultivation first," Jun Tianming replied calmly. "Where is the best place for that?"
"Oh? Cultivation?" Gu Tian looked surprised. "Senior Brother, you look quite young. What realm are you currently at? I can't seem to sense your cultivation."
"Ah… the Sect Master asked me to keep it a secret," Jun Tianming answered casually.
"Ohhh!" Gu Tian laughed. "If the Sect Master personally chose you, you must be extremely talented!"
After walking for some time, they soon arrived before a towering pagoda with fifteen floors, standing majestically among the mountains.
Gu Tian pointed toward it.
"This is the Golden Spiritual Pagoda."
"It contains the highest density of spiritual energy within the entire sect."
"Normally, disciples are allowed to enter it only once in their lifetime."
"As the floors increase, the spiritual pressure also becomes stronger."
"Some foolish disciples rush inside as soon as they begin cultivating, only to be forced out before even reaching the second floor."
"But Senior Brother must have extraordinary cultivation. If you wish to improve quickly, this is the best place."
Hearing this, Jun Tianming quietly cleared his throat.
In truth…
He currently had no cultivation at all.
His power had been completely sealed by his father.
However, even without cultivation, his divine body from the God Realm was far beyond anything a mortal cultivator could compare to.
Spiritual pressure from the Mortal Realm was nothing to him.
So, entering the pagoda would not pose any problem.
Jun Tianming looked toward the towering structure.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Then let us go inside."
"Senior Brother, please submit your token to the elder in front. After that, you may enter," Gu Tian said respectfully. "Have a great cultivation session."
With that, he greeted Jun Tianming and departed.
As Jun Tianming walked forward, he noticed an old man lazily reclining on a wooden chair near the entrance of the pagoda.
The old man looked half-asleep.
Jun Tianming calmly took out the Azure token from his storage ring and handed it to him.
The old man glanced at it briefly before giving Jun Tianming an annoyed look.
"Go in," he muttered lazily.
Then he scoffed.
"Hmph… kids these days think they can survive inside the pagoda with such shallow cultivation."
Hearing this, Jun Tianming merely smirked faintly.
Without saying a word, he stepped inside the Golden Spiritual Pagoda.
The moment he entered.
The surroundings changed.
Inside, the pagoda was far larger than it appeared from the outside. The interior hall was wide and circular, with ancient stone pillars supporting the ceiling. Spiritual energy filled the air like a dense mist, swirling slowly around the chamber.
Even the ground beneath his feet glowed faintly with formation runes.
At the center stood a spiral staircase leading to the higher floors.
The pressure of spiritual energy weighed down upon the body of anyone who entered.
For ordinary cultivators, even standing on the first floor required effort.
Jun Tianming calmly looked around.
Then he took a step forward.
The spiritual pressure immediately surged toward him—
But his expression did not change at all.
Instead…
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Is this all?"
Jun Tianming calmly sat down on the floor.
The first floor of the pagoda had only five other people present, all sitting quietly as they cultivated.
He chose an empty spot and began cultivating as well.
Not far away, two young women were whispering to each other.
"LiLi… who is he?" one of them asked softly. "It's the first time I've seen someone this handsome. I've never seen him in the sect before."
"RiRi, you're right," the other replied while glancing at him again. "He must be from some influential family."
The two girls were rather petite and considered quite pretty by the standards of the Mortal Realm.
"Hmph."
Behind them, a young man with black hair and sharp eyes frowned in irritation as he watched them stare at Jun Tianming.
His expression darkened.
LiLi and RiRi are mine… he thought angrily.
Who the hell is this brat making them react like that?
I'll destroy this bastard.
Despite the fury in his mind, he maintained a calm expression outwardly.
Time passed quietly.
Soon, Jun Tianming opened his eyes.
A full month had passed while he cultivated.
The moment his golden eyes opened, they seemed to shine faintly under the pagoda's spiritual light.
Seeing this, the two girls' hearts fluttered.
They immediately walked toward him.
"Senior Brother… who are you?" one of them asked sweetly as they approached.
They stood close to him, striking slightly seductive poses.
"Senior Brother is so handsome," one of them giggled. "Would you perhaps like a cultivation partner?"
Their eyes were filled with clear lust.
Jun Tianming had seen countless women like them before.
He felt nothing but disdain.
In his eyes, women who clung to men for power or pleasure were beneath his notice and the worst existence to be alive.
To him, they were nothing more than tools to be used if necessary.
"Bastard…"
The black-haired young man clenched his fists.
"LiLi! RiRi! Don't be fooled by him!"
Chen Ye suddenly stepped forward.
"Who do you think you are?" he said coldly. "You look like nothing but a weakling. Meanwhile, "I am the disciple of Elder Zhang. Even inner disciples show me respect."
"Hahaha!" RiRi laughed mockingly. "Young Master Chen, why are you trying to scare him?"
Jun Tianming paid no attention to their banter.
He simply stood up and pushed LiLi and RiRi aside as he walked toward the staircase leading to the second floor.
"Y–You despicable brat!"
Chen Ye's face turned red with anger.
"You dare ignore me?!"
Being pushed aside, LiLi and RiRi's expressions changed as well. Their pride had been hurt.
They immediately moved closer to Chen Ye, clinging to his arms.
"Brother Chen! You must avenge us!" they cried together.
"He pushed us!"
Feeling their soft bodies pressing against him, Chen Ye's heart burned with both pride and desire.
His mouth watered slightly as he glared at Jun Tianming's back.
"I challenge you to a duel!" Chen Ye shouted.
But Jun Tianming did not even turn around.
He continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Chen Ye's anger exploded.
"Bastard!"
He gathered spiritual energy into his fist.
Spiritual power surged around him as he rushed forward.
"Take this!"
His fist shot toward Jun Tianming's back.
BOOM!